Australia's Adam Gilchrist bats in the nets during a team training session in St. Vincent ahead of their match against England today. - Reuters

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC):

ADAM GILCHRIST has made a return to the Australian team after the birth of his third child and has been welcomed back by teammates.

The Aussies' vice-captain said he was delighted to rejoin the unit as they pursued an unprecedented third successive Cricket World Cup title.

In Australia's opening warm-up match on Tuesday, the glovework was done by Brad Haddin, with Gilchrist only arriving the night before.

Gilchrist, a 35-year-old veteran of 257 one-day internationals, will take over today when they face old enemy England at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

"I was happy for the time off and I'm delighted with the arrival of our third child and I'm now ready to go after that hat-trick (of titles) that everyone is talking about," said Gilchrist.

The powerful left-hander was speaking to a large team of reporters and camera crew ahead of the start of a training session at the Sion Hill Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Refuelled

"A little break from cricket gave me a chance to get back to the more important business of family and now I'm refuelled and all set to go," he noted.

"Everyone could do with a bit of a refresher every now and again and this was a chance for me to have some time away."

After the warm-ups here on this hilly island, the Australians will journey to St. Kitts where they will play in Group A alongside South Africa, Scotland and Holland.

Gilchrist, who was part of the champion teams of 1999 and 2003, said the mood in the camp had been buoyant since he joined late Monday night after flying for 23 hours.

"The fact that all the guys got a chance to have a go at what they specialise in (on Tuesday) was good for us," he explained.

"Just talking to them they areall much better for having gotten a chance to play on a West Indian wicket. Whether or not it will be typical of what we will come across in the other countries is left to be seen."

The one player who was not used in Tuesday's match was all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who is recovering from a torn bicep muscle and will not play until the Super Eights (second round), if the Australians get there.